Of the two types of hand pruners (bypass vs. anvil), the anvil pruner is the lesser-seen variety. It is designed to cut best on tough or dead wood, with a straight blade that makes a slicing or chopping cut against a flat anvil.
To continue with our winter fragrance theme, let’s talk about daphne odora, or winter daphne. Often placed near doorways and walks, the jasmine-like scent of this lovely shrub wafts from Pacific Northwest gardens from late January through March.
As a child, the only peas I wanted to eat were the ones growing in my grandmother’s garden—straight off the vines. Now, as an adult, I appreciate the work that she put into growing English peas; the per pound yield was a precious commodity.
Have you ever heard that a keenly sharp knife is also the safest knife? Our dull garden pruners probably won’t be slicing our hands, but a very sharp one will certainly lessen the effort it takes to make a pruning cut.
We are delighted to announce “The Sower” by artist Sarah Mottaghinejad has been selected as the winner of this year’s annual art competition. The winning piece features cherry veneer, acrylic, watercolor, mica, and hollyhock seeds on a clay panel measuring 18” x 24”.
This week’s Tuesday Tool is the bypass hand pruner. Pruners are going to be in your hand for most of your gardening hours, so it’s definitely worth an in-person visit to the garden center to find one that is a true fit for your needs.
Just when we need it most, witch hazel puts on a dazzling show for winter-weary gardeners. Depending on the species and cultivar, fragrant, strap-like, crumpled petals bloom in vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red.
A floral shovel has a long wooden handle like your standard shovel, but the blade is smaller than a standard size. The lighter weight and smaller blade can be a real back saver for gardeners as it self-limits the load size that can be lifted.
While on a walk, a honeyed fragrance unexpectedly tickles my nose. Although I don’t immediately see the source, the vanilla-perfumed air is unmistakable and I know in an instant that Sarcococca is nearby.
Welcome to Tuesday Tools & Tips, a new blog series about ergonomic garden tools and tips for using them. The goal is to make gardening easier on our bodies so we can do it well into our aging years.
Since 1995, West Seattle Garden Tour has been focused on growing our sense of community. We strive to highlight the physical beauty in West Seattle, and to bring our neighbors together to enjoy those lush spaces and each other.